A former Member of Parliament (MP) and six newcomers will join Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Allyson Maynard Gibson and Minister of State for National Security Keith Bell in the upper chamber, completing the government’s compliment in the Senate.
The Cabinet Office yesterday announced that Prime Minister Perry Christie has already advised the governor general of his appointments.
Former St. Thomas More MP Frank Smith, along with defeated candidates Greg Burrows, Jerome Gomez, Julian Russell and Gary Sawyer have all been chosen to serve in the upper chamber.
Alex Storr, who ran on the PLP’s ticket in the Long Island constituency, has also been appointed a senator.
Meantime, the party’s candidate for East Grand Bahama, Tanisha Tynes is the only other woman who will make up the PLP’s team.
Mr. Christie said the appointments represent the youngest group of government senators ever appointed to the Senate and is yet another early demonstration of his determination to prepare the country for a new generation of leadership.
He, however, expressed regret that he could not also have selected the party’s North Eleuthera candidate Clay Sweeting as a senator.
Mr. Christie explained that Mr. Sweeting is still in his 20’s and is not constitutionally eligible to serve in the Senate at this time.
But he did indicate he would soon appoint him to another important position so that he, too, could play a role in national governance.
As for Renardo Curry, the party’s North Abaco candidate, he decided to forgo an appointment.
According to the prime minister, that is because Mr. Curry is gearing up to contest the anticipated by-election in the North Abaco constituency.
Mr. Curry lost to former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham by some 379 votes.
Now in all, 13 senators have been appointed, leaving three seats to be filled.
The Cabinet Office has also indicated that Mr. Christie would be advising the governor general as to the three additional appointments following the required consultation with the leader of the Opposition.
